At Cumberland’s most recent event, clients and special guests gathered for an inspiring evening with Dr. Susan Reid, award-winning author of Re-Visioning Retirement, to explore what it really means to design a fulfilling next chapter in life. Hosted by Alex von Schroeter, Cumberland Partner together with the firm’s Portfolio Managers, the session invited clients to look beyond the financial side of retirement and focus instead on what gives it purpose.

While Dr. Reid’s work centres on the retirement transition, her ideas resonate just as strongly with anyone entering a new chapter, whether becoming an empty nester, selling a business, or redefining life after a major change.

A Personal Turning Point

Dr. Reid began by sharing a personal story that set the tone for the evening. After retiring at 57 from a successful entrepreneurial, academic and consulting career, she expected to feel carefree, relaxed and accomplished. Instead, during a trip to France soon after her official retirement, she found herself overwhelmed by what she later recognized as a panic attack. She realized that she’d built her whole career around helping others find their vision but had never truly created one for herself.

That realization became the spark for her transformative new book and bespoke workbook. Drawing on decades of research in entrepreneurship and innovation, Dr. Reid reframed retirement not as an ending, but as an opportunity to “re-vision” life itself. With over 1.5 billion people worldwide now at or near retirement age, a number expected to double by 2050, the question, she noted, is no longer when to retire, but how to make it meaningful.

 

What It Means to Have a Vision

Throughout her presentation, Dr. Reid unpacked the elements of an effective personal vision, describing it as having a clear mental image of the future you’re passionate about, and something just beyond reach that acts as both a compass and a catalyst.

She illustrated this through her research into the three aspects of vision: clarity (seeing it vividly), scope (understanding who it touches), and magnetism (feeling drawn toward it). When these dimensions align, they create a sense of direction that can outlast any single role or title.

 

The FUN Framework

To help participants begin that process, Dr. Reid introduced what she calls the FUN Framework, short for Foundations, Uncovering, and Nurturing. It begins with rediscovering one’s authentic self: core values, natural skills, and enduring passions. Next comes uncovering the aspirational self, or the person you want to become. Finally, nurturing brings that vision to life by cultivating openness, paying attention to what energizes you, and amplifying your intentions through simple daily practices.

From Fear to Fulfilment

Blending academic insight with personal warmth, Dr. Reid’s talk resonated deeply with an audience of entrepreneurs, professionals, and retirees alike. The conversation that followed touched on fear, purpose, and the growing phenomenon of “encore entrepreneurship,” which refers to individuals launching meaningful ventures later in life.

Guests also reflected on how the same process of re-visioning can help navigate other turning points, such as career transitions, family changes, or new personal priorities that redefine what success means.

Many guests noted that while financial security remains essential, clarity of purpose may be the true measure of a successful retirement.

Looking Inward

As the evening concluded, Dr. Reid left guests with a timeless reflection from Carl Jung:

“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”

At Cumberland, we share that philosophy. Our role is to help clients connect their financial plans with their personal vision, so the next chapter is both well funded and deeply fulfilling. If you’d like to revisit your own retirement vision or discuss strategies for making it a reality, please contact your Cumberland Wealth Advisor.